Inactive

Note ; See Revised RFI posted June 25.2021 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) Associated Press Audio News RFI Tracking Number: HQ0516-FY-2036 CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS: Defense Media Activity - Riverside ... Note ; See Revised RFI posted June 25.2021 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) Associated Press Audio News RFI Tracking Number: HQ0516-FY-2036 CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS: Defense Media Activity - Riverside 23755 Z Street Riverside, CA 92518 The Defense Media Activity (DMA) is posting this RFI to gain information on the agency’s requirement for procurement of Associated Press Inc. (AP) Audio News Content, Support, and Licenses to deliver AP audio news, for broadcast and retransmission to support the mission of the American Forces Network (AFN). The responses provided may be used by DMA and/or AFN to assist in budgetary planning, developing an acquisition strategy, Performance Work Statement, salient characteristics, and performance requirements. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Specific support is required to ascertain industry’s ability to furnish AP Audio News, Support, and Licenses to deliver AP audio news content, for broadcast and retransmission for use on audio services provided worldwide by AFN. DMA representatives may choose to meet with respondents and others who express interest and hold one-on-one discussions. Such discussions would only be intended to obtain further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements, including any development and implementation risks. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess availability of the anticipated requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. INSTRUCTIONS: Respondents are encouraged to provide the following: A summary of the respondent’s capabilities relating to DMA’s requirements. Questions related to the RFI’s Required Capabilities. Any questions received and subsequent answers will be posted to https://beta.sam.gov/ for the benefit of all interested parties. An itemized budgetary estimate for satisfying the RFI’s Required Capabilities. Itemized estimates are preferred should DMA need to adjust system specifications. BACKGROUND The purchase of Associated Press Inc. Audio News Content, Support, and Licenses to deliver AP audio news, will enable the DMA to meet and support the enduring AFN mission. AFN mission tasking per DoD Instruction 5120.20 is to support the Internal Communications mission of the Department of Defense (DoD) by providing a broad range of information and entertainment programming to DoD personnel and their family members overseas, thus attracting an audience for Internal Communications messages placed within AFN programming. The AFN Broadcast Center Contracting Office has purchased product of a similar nature in the past. The rates paid by the Government do not vary, regardless of the popularity or commercial value of provided content. The provided news content is broadcast outside the continental United States via the U.S. military's land-based radio outlets, encrypted satellite, geo-blocked audio-over-IP streaming services, and closed-circuit facilities of the DoD. Distribution of all programming is non-commercial, non-reporting, non-profit, and royalty-free. AFN services are intended strictly for use by DoD personnel, and their dependents. REQUIRED CAPABILITIES: The objective of this requirement is to acquire Associated Press Inc. (AP) audio news content, and requisite licenses and usage rights, to deliver AP audio via encrypted satellite, terrestrial AM/FM radio, and geo-blocked audio-over-IP streaming services to the DoD audience serving overseas. The contractor shall provide packaged AP audio news content to include: 24/7 hourly newscasts, and news updates Special reports and bulletins. Daily and weekly short- and long-form audio news features, if applicable. All provided content must be produced to a consistent length, and made available on a regular and consistent schedule. The contractor shall provide required license and usage rights for broadcast and retransmission of AP audio news content to authorized Department of Defense and American Forces Network outlets. The contractor shall make available packaged AP audio news content via satellite delivery and/or IP-based file transfer. It is desirable that the content retrieval process be executed automatically via AudioVAULT Flex automation systems. The contractor shall provide technical support to ensure timely and accurate content delivery/ transfer. If applicable, The contractor shall furnish any devices, appliances, or mechanisms, and redundant spares, required for the American Forces Network to receive audio content. The contractor shall provide 24/7 technical support to ensure timely and accurate delivery of content to required devices, appliances, or mechanisms. REQUESTED INFORMATION: a. Company’s Name, mailing address, phone number, fax number, company’s website, and e-mail of designated point(s) of contact. b. Business Type: Classification based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. i.e.: 519110 - News Syndicates Identify the type of entity: large business, small business, small disadvantaged, woman-owned, 8(a), HUBZone, service disabled veteran-owned, etc. c. Cage Code: d. Contractor’s past performance in meeting stated objectives/requirements, statement of qualifications to include information that clearly demonstrates the respondent’s capabilities, expertise and experience to perform the specific requirements contained in this RFI. e. Contract vehicles that would be available to the Government for the procurement of the product and service, to include General Service Administration (GSA), GSA MOBIS, NIH, NASA SEWP, Federal Supply Schedules (FSS), or any other Government Agency contract vehicle. (This information is for market research only and does not preclude your company from responding to this notice.) RESPONSE GUIDELINES: Vendors who wish to respond to this should send responses via email NLT 18 June 2021, 9:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) to DMA-R Contracting Officer Jessie Feliciano, jesus.feliciano3.civ@mail.mil and AFN-BC Chief of Radio Operations and Programming, Thomas Arnholt, thomas.r.arnholt.civ@mail.mil. Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper. Submissions cannot exceed 10 pages, single-spaced, 12-point type with at least one-inch margins on 8 1/2” X 11” page size, not including any manufacturer cut sheets or system block diagrams. Responses must specifically describe the contractor’s capability to meet each of the requirements outlined in this RFI. QUESTIONS: Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted by e-mail to DMA-R Contracting Officer Jessie Feliciano, jesus.feliciano3.civ@mail.mil and AFN-BC Chief of Radio Thomas Arnholt, thomas.r.arnholt.civ@mail.mil. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 4:00 PM (Pacific), 16 June 2021, will be answered. The Government will not reimburse companies for any costs associated with the submissions of their responses. DISCLAIMER: This RFI is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals nor will any award be made as a result of this synopsis. All information contained in the RFI is preliminary, as well as, subject to modification and is in no way binding on the Government. FAR clause 52.215-3, “Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes”, is incorporated by reference in this RFI. The Government does not intend to pay for information received in response to this RFI. Responders to this invitation are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. This RFI will be the basis for collecting information on capabilities available. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received in this RFI that is marked “Proprietary” will be handled accordingly. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. PARTICIPATION IN THIS RFI IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY AND FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE ANY ITEMS/SERVICES OR FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE INFORMATION RECEIVED. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ASSOCIATED COSTS AS A RESULT OF PROSPECTIVE OFFERORS INTEREST, RESPONSE OR PARTICIPATION IN THIS RFI. ANY FORMAL SOLICITATION WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE. THE GOVERNMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL THIS REQUIREMENT AT ANY TIME DURING THE ACQUISITION PROCESS. ANY SOLICITATION RESULTING FROM THE ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE POSTED TO THE PUBLIC IN FEDERAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FAR PART 5. HOWEVER, RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED RESPONSES TO A SOLICITATION.